Fishing bait retainer

ABSTRACT

An elongated plastically deformable wirelike device for securing and retaining bait on a fishing hook. The device has flattened opposite ends, either one of which may conveniently be folded and clamped about a fishing line at the location where such attaches to a hook. The remaining portion of the device, i.e., that which extends away from an end thus fastened to a line, may be wound tightly around the hook&#39;&#39;s shank, and around any bait on the hook, thus to anchor the bait to the shank.

United States Patent [191 Anton et a1.

[11] 3,778,920 [4 1 "Dec. 18, 1973 FISHING BAIT RETAINER [76] Inventors:Robert P. Anton; Vernon P. Anton,

both of 5915 NE. Almeda, Portland, Oreg. 97213 [22] Filed: Aug. 30, I971[21] Appl. No.: 175,953

[52] US. Cl. 43/44.4 [51] Int. Cl AOlk 83/06 [58] Field of Search43/44.4, 44.2, 44.8, 43/4237, 42.53, 4489; 24/27, 28, 29, 16

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,821,046 1/1958 Fisk 43/4422.454.879 11/1948 Mattingly.... 45/448 2,480,042 8/1949 Nelson 43/4442,520,654 8/1950 Rants 43/44.89

Primary Examiner-Warner H. Camp AttorneyKulisch, Hartwell & Dickinson 57 ABSTRACT An elongated plastically deformable wirelike device forsecuring and retaining bait on a fishing hook. The device has flattenedopposite ends, either one of which may conveniently be folded andclamped about a fishing line at the location where such attaches to ahook. The remaining portion of the device, i.e., that which extends awayfrom an end thus fastened to a line, may be wound tightly around thehooks shank, and around any bait on the hook, thus to anchor the bait tothe shank.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures FISHING BAIT RETAINER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a device for securing andretaining bait, such as a cluster of salmon eggs, on a fishing hook.

A problem which recurrently confronts and frustrates fishermen is howsatisfactorily to secure bait, such as that just mentioned, on a fishinghook. In many instances, and in the case of bait such as salmon eggs, itis ordinarily not enough simply to insert the hook into the bait and torely on the hook alone to retain the bait. Obviously, bait which isimproperly secured to a hook can easily come off the hook prematurely.

A general object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide anovel bait securing and retaining device for use in conjunction with afish hook, which device solves the problem just mentioned in a practicaland satisfactory manner.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide such adevice which, when installed, will reliably hold bait on a hook-makingaccidental bait loss extremely unlikely.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type sofar generally described which readily lends itself to concealedinstallation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a baitsecuring and retaining device which is relatively inexpensive to use,and simple to install.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the proposeddevice features an elongated slender wirelike element formed from asuitable plastically yieldable and deformable material. The deviceincludes flattened bladelike end portions which join integrally with anelongated nonflattened central portion. The central portion has a smoothand nonangular outside surface, preferably with a substantially circularcross section.

When used, either one of the flattened ends of the device is folded andpinched (or clamped) about the outer end of a fishing line (at thelocation where such extends away from the shank in a hook). The centralportion of the device is then tightly spirally wrapped around the shankand around any bait on the hook, thus to anchor the bait against theshank. The other end portion of the device is then inserted into thebait to conceal it.

This entire operation, which, it will be apparent, results in baitbecoming securely attached to a hook, can

be performed quite easily and very quickly. The secur-.

ing device, when thus installed, in no way interferes with the normalhandling characteristics of a baited hook, and in no way destroys thenaturalness of the baits appearance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects and advantagesattained by the invention will become more fully apparent as thedescription which follows is read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation illustrating a bait securing and retainingdevice as contemplated herein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken generally along the line 22in FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is an end view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the device installed for use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Turning now to the drawings, andreferring first to FIGS. 1-3, inclusive, indicated generally at 10 is afishing bait securing and retaining device constructed according to thepresent invention. Device 10 is a unitary structure including'anelongated central portion 10a, opposite ends of which join with endportions 10b. Preferably, the device is formed from a suitableplastically yieldable and deformable material, such as soft annealedsteel. As will be more fully explained herein, it is considered quiteimportant that the particular material used to make device 10 be readilyplastically deformable (in the sense that it can easily be manipulatedand bent to different shapes) with the device tending (unless furtherdeformed with sufficient force) to retain whatever shape orconfiguration it has been given.

As can be seen clearly in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the transversecross-sectional configurations of the central and end portions in thedevice are different. More specifi-' cally, central portion 10a has whatmight be thought of as a nonflattened transverse cross section(preferably circular as shown), whereas end portions 10b have what mightbe thought of as flattened transverse cross sections. Referringparticularly to FIG. 3 which shows the cross-sectional outlines of thecentral and an end portion of the device, it can be seen that the crosssection of central portion 10a has a diameter D which is greater thanthe width W of the transverse cross section of an end portion 10b, andless than the length L of the latter-mentioned cross section.

While different particular dimensions may be employed in the device tosuit different applications, a device which has been found to performsatisfactorily under most circumstances has an overall length of about 5inches, with dimensions D, W and L being about 0.018-inches,0.005-inches and 0.05-inches, respectively. The end portions may each beabout oneeighth inch to about one-fourth inch long.

It will thus be apparent that the proposed device is relatively simplein construction, and can be manufactured relatively economically. Forexample, manufacture of a device may begin by cutting of the desiredlength of soft annealed steel wire having an appropriate diameter, suchas 26-gage wire. Opposite ends of this cut length may then be suitablycompressed to produce the flattened cross section end portions shown.Such are the steps which have actually been performed heretofore inmanufacturing models of the device.

Turning now to FIG. 4, this illustrates the device in an installedcondition with respect to a conventional fishing hook 12 which is tiedonto the outer end of the usual fishing line 14. Bait, such as thecluster of salmon eggs shown in dashed outline at 16, is mounted on thehook, with the hook embedded in the egg cluster. Describing further whatis shown in FIG. 4 by way of a description of an installation procedure,an end portion 10b of the device is folded around and pinched againstfishing line 14, immediately adjacent where the line extends away fromthe upper end of the shank in hook 12. This end portion of the devicethus becomes clamped, so-to-speak, to the fishing line. It will beapparent that the ready deformability of the material used in device 10,and the flattened cross section in the end portion, facilitate such anoperation.

With egg cluster 16 mounted on and essentially surrounding hook l2,central portion 10a of the device is then tightly spirally wound aroundportions of the bait surrounding the shank. Under normal circumstancessuch a winding operation results in central portion 10a embedding itselfin folds in the bait, without cutting the bait, with the result that thewindings are concealed by the bait. The smooth and nonangular outsidesurface on portion 10a minimizes the chances of cutting into the bait.After such winding, the other end portion 10b is then suitably insertedinto the bait to conceal it. The flattened cross section of the endportion facilitates such insertion.

After installation, it will be apparent that egg cluster 16 is securelyattached to hook 12. The windings in device 10 firmly anchor the baitagainst the hooks shank, and the end portion of the device which isfolded around the fishing line acts to prevent the device and bait fromslipping axially along the hook.

Because the material in device 10 deforms plastically, manipulation ofthe device during installation is a relatively simple process. in otherwords, while the device can readily be deformed as desired to securebait, it has sufficient stiffness to permit easy grasping during theinstalling procedure.

Obviously, with device 10 formed from a material such as that mentionedearlier, it will not under normal fishing conditions break or otherwiseyield in a manner accidentally releasing the bait from the hook. Shouldthe bait deteriorate after a period of time, it will be apparent thatthe same device can be used repeatedly.

Thus, it is believed apparent that the proposed securing and retainingdevice for fishing bait satisfactorily meets and solves the problemmentioned earlier.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein,it is appreciated that variations and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

it is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A wrapping device for binding bait on a fishing hook which isattached to a fishing line comprising an elongated slender plasticallyyieldable and deformable wrapping element,

said element including an elongated end portion having along its lengtha flattened transverse cross section adapted for folding and clampingabout such a line, and joined to and extending away from said endportion another portion having a transverse cross section with aconfiguration different from that of said first-mentioned transversecross section. I 2. A wrapping device for binding bait on a fishing hookwhich is attached to a fishing line comprising an elongated slenderplastically yieldable and deformable wrapping element, said elementincluding an elongated end portion defining one end of the elementhaving along its length a flattened transverse cross section adapted forfolding and clamping about such a line, and

another portion joined to said end portion and extending therefromtoward the elements other end, said other portion having along itslength a nonflattened transverse cross section.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said elements said other portion isformed with a smooth and nonangular outside surface extending along itslength.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein said transverse cross section of saidelements said other portion is substantially circular.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said flattened transverse crosssection has a length greater than the diameter of said substantiallycircular transverse cross section, and a width less than such diameter.

6. in combination with a fishing hook having an elongated shank one endof which is attached to the outer end of an elongated fishing line, adevice for securing bait on said hook comprising an elongated slenderplastically yieldable and de formable element, said element including anelongated end portion definine one end of the element having along itslength a flattened transverse cross section, said end portion beingfolded and clamped around said outer end of said line adjacent saidshank, and

another elongated portion joined to said end portion and extending awaytherefrom toward' the other end of the element, said other portionhaving along its length a nonflattened transverse cross section and asmooth and nonangular outside surface, said other portion being adaptedto be deformably and tightly wrapped around said shank and around anybait on said hook to pull such bait against the shank.,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,773,920 Dated December 18, 1973 Inventor(s) Robert F. Anton and VernonR. Anton It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the. cover sheet the inventor's names should read -Robert F. Anton--and -Vernon R. Anton---.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of April 197M.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD I I.FL ETCIUEIR,JR. I I C; MARSHALL DANN Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents RM PO-IOSO (1069)

1. A wrapping device for binding bait on a fishing hook which isattached to a fishing line comprising an elongated slender plasticallyyieldable and deformable wrapping element, said element including anelongated end portion having along its length a flattened transversecross section adapted for folding and clamping about such a line, andjoined to and extending away from said end portion another portionhaving a transverse cross section with a configuration different fromthat of said first-mentioned transverse cross section.
 2. A wrappingdevice for binding bait on a fishing hook which is attached to a fishingline comprising an elongated slender plastically yieldable anddeformable wrapping element, said element including an elongated endportion defining one end of the element having along its length aflattened transverse cross section adapted for folding and clampingabout such a line, and another portion joined to said end portion andextending therefrom toward the element''s other end, said other portionhaving along its length a nonflattened transverse cross section.
 3. Thedevice of claim 2, wherein said element''s said other portion is formedwith a smooth and nonangular outside surface extending along its length.4. The device of claim 2, wherein said transverse cross section of saidelement''s said other portion is substantially circular.
 5. The deviceof claim 4, wherein said flattened transverse cross section has a lengthgreater than the diameter of said substantially circular transversecross section, and a width less than such diameter.
 6. In combinationwith a fishing hook having an elongated shank one end of which isattached to the outer end of an elongated fishing line, a device forsecuring bait on said hook comprising an elongated slender plasticallyyieldable and deformable element, said element including an elongatedend portion definine one end of the element having along its length aflattened transverse cross section, said end portion being folded andclamped around said outer end of said line adjacent said shank, andanother elongated portion joined to said end portion and extending awaytherefrom toward the other end of the element, saId other portion havingalong its length a nonflattened transverse cross section and a smoothand nonangular outside surface, said other portion being adapted to bedeformably and tightly wrapped around said shank and around any bait onsaid hook to pull such bait against the shank.